Friday, 8 July 2011

There has been a lot of interest in our little jaunt up to Herr Bartlett's mini fiefdom, and plenty of encouraging developments.

Most importantly, please note that the start time has been moved forward by an hour to 11am. This has been necessary for best media results (it's a long story). We will now be gathering at The Vaults from 11am onwards with speeches expected to start at 11:45.

The subject of the Stony Stratford ban cropped up on Jeremy Vine's BBC Radio 2 show today, with Bartlett himself being interviewed, along with David Nuttall MP who was making the opposite case for a relaxation of the smoking ban to accommodate separate smoking rooms.

Bartlett spoke less than fluently with muddled logic, and came across as the worst kind of anti-smoker - at one point even calling his own father "disgusting". You can listen to the debate here from 35 minutes in.

Local press will be in attendance and today I spoke to BBC Look East who will be bringing their cameras along on the day.

All rather encouraging, I think you'll agree.

There are still details to be confirmed, so a final rundown of the arrangements will follow early next week. If you're planning to come along on the day - or even if you can't make it - please invite others in any way you can. If on Facebook, there is an 'invite' button just beneath the picture on the event page HERE (it only appears once you have declared if you are coming or not).

I'm interesteed in numbers at this stage. I've had e-mails from people attending and FB people confirming attendance, but if you're not one of those but are coming, please say 'aye' or something in the comments. :)

I'm down on Facebook as a (definite) Maybe. It's just the distance, though am seriously considering burning the plastic to do a weekend in Milton Keynes... which is what I asked my 12yo son: "Fancy a weekend in Milton Keynes?" Something I thought I would NEVER say...

Is the Vaults "kid-friendly"? My lad would be bored shitless, I don't doubt, but I would rather like to show support and have a decent pint in company of like-minded grumpies... Plus: be good to deliberately stand outside and smoke a few

ps, my son doesn't like smoking. I told him that a nazi bastard wants to stop people smoking in the street, and he seemed to think that this was a good idea.... Um... so I told him that after that he wanted to ban dinosaurs.* He now thinks he's an absolute twat of the first order. Did I do bad?

pps: stony stratford was where they filmed Withnail and I... a good excuse to go... er... I can''t find anything else to do in MK, other than visit the Concrete Cows.

I am so cross Mr P. A chance to meet all those people I only know via the net, inc you, Frank, Simon, the list is endless. Alas, although I am a retired has been who never was, I have a gig on 16th - grrrr

Well done, DP. Especially getting some media involved, though I suspect some of them will be trying their damnedest to spin the event to show a bunch of evil smokers ganging up on the... er, well not the majority who don't smoke because that wouldn't make sense. Councillor Fucknuts maybe? Whatever, expect bias is all I'm saying.

FWIW I'd say you'd help things if you can get a bunch of sympathetic non-smokers along as well, people who don't mind standing by people who spark up and are happy to explain to a journo or anyone else that they support the smokers because eventually the ban-brigade will get round to something they do do. I'd put my hand up for it but I'm sure you understand that ten thousand miles is an awfully long way.

Feature on R5L 5 minutes after end of 11.33pm news (about 11.43pm) on Adrian Goldberg Show Saturday night. Bartlett came across as a nutter, spouting random mad claims about smoking and smokers, but David Nuttall spoke very well about permitting smoking rooms. Two or three phone-in punters featured. All in favour of allowing smoking rooms.

Vape, don't smoke. Give the fascists the finger.They want to ban smoking? fine. Give them their little victory, make them feel like the big man.. then bring out your E-Cig and watch their attitude change.